Kukui Grove’s Mei Mele Makeke draws crowds for island-made gifts

Courtney Wilson of Shipwreck Hawaii was back at Kukui Grove Center with clothing and island-made goods as the Mei Mele Makeke opened its two-week run on Thursday, April 30, drawing steady foot traffic to a marketplace that felt more like a busy neighborhood shopping stop than a mall add-on.

The May edition of Mele Makeke was built for exactly that kind of errand run. Open Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with Friday hours stretching to 8 p.m., the pop-up brought together vendors selling Kauai-made and Kauai-produced items in one place, just in time for Mother’s Day and graduation shopping. For many shoppers, that meant a chance to compare gifts, food and apparel without driving across the island or bouncing between individual storefronts and weekend craft fairs.

At the opening, Daphne Halverson of Kukui Grove spoke with Wilson, while Tara Arume-Nitta showed off koi-themed items at Hapa House and Tawnya Schoenick and Sonya Emura of Kauai Poi Balls prepared trays of cooked poi balls for customers. The lineup underscored the appeal of the format: small businesses get a central, high-traffic venue, and shoppers get a short-term marketplace with enough variety to feel like a seasonal one-stop shop.

That mix has worked before. Kukui Grove used the same Mele Makeke model during the holiday season, when crowds lined up for vendors in the former Macy’s Mens space. Wilson said in last year’s run that she planned to be there every day the makeke was open through Mother’s Day, and some vendors, including Simply Sisters from Hilo, also returned from the earlier market. The repeated turnout suggests the arrangement gives small sellers a lower-risk way to reach buyers while fitting alongside the center’s existing tenants.

The market also tied into Kauai’s spring cultural calendar. Hapa House’s koi fabric theme connected to Kodomo no Hi, or Boys Day, while Kukui Grove has repeatedly used its grounds for community events such as Kodomo no Hi, the K+M Craft Market and the Kaua‘i Ukulele Festival. Nearby, the Kapaia Foundation’s display of 600 koinobori in Kapaia Valley added to the seasonal backdrop of carp streamers, Japanese imagery and family-centered celebration.

Kukui Grove, described in holiday coverage as the island’s largest shopping center, has turned that scale into an advantage by giving local makers a place to gather large crowds without losing the feel of an island market. For Kauai shoppers looking for gifts, food and local products, Mei Mele Makeke offered a concentrated answer in the middle of Lihue.